asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the largescale purchase of house property here by non-residents of this country; if he will indicate the nature of the currency regulations covering the import of sterling for this purpose; and whether, as the inflated prices offered by these non-residents place our citizens at a serious disadvantage in the matter of the purchase of house property, he will take such steps as may be practicable to restrict the import of sterling for this purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Purchases by Foreigners.
The first part of the Deputy's question, and the assumption contained in the third part of his question, are covered by a similar question addressed by him to-day to the Minister for Justice, and I do not propose to deal with these points. There are no restrictions, and I see no reason to impose any, on the payment of sterling through ordinary banking channels, nor on the import of sterling bank notes from the Six Counties, Great Britain, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands.
asked the Minister for Justice whether, in view of the disadvantage at which citizens of this country are placed, in the matter of house purchase, owing to the inflated prices offered and paid by non-nationals, and considering the general lack of houses, he will introduce proposals for legislation to prohibit the acquisition of house property by persons who are not citizens of this country.
I am not satisfied that legislation on the lines suggested by the Deputy is necessary.